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It Looked Like It Was All Over For This Baby Baboon... But Something Unbelievable Happened

April 8, 2014

Two photographers were on a game drive in northern Botswana when they encountered a massive group of thirty to forty chaotic baboons charging by them. It soon became clear that the baboons were startled by a few lions that were chasing them. The lions were roaring while the baboons were screaming. Everything was in complete disarray.

Amazingly, the two photographers were able to capture a stunning interaction that happened in the midst of the mayhem.

A female baboon tried to make a run for it but unfortunately wasn't lucky. A lioness grabbed it immediately in her jaws.

Credit: Evan Schiller and Lisa Holzwarth

Little did the lioness know, a baby baboon, less than 1 month old, soon emerged from next to the mother's body.

Credit: Evan Schiller and Lisa Holzwarth

Immediately, the scared baby baboon quickly tried to make an escape but it was too weak to climb far. The lioness was surprised and went over to find out what was happening.

This would be moment when we would all cringe in horror, right?

Credit: Evan Schiller and Lisa Holzwarth

Surprisingly, instead of going for the kill, the lioness began to play with the baby baboon.

Credit: Evan Schiller and Lisa Holzwarth

She was both curious and gentle. The baby was showing signs of physical harm and fatigue from the whole ordeal. The lioness picked the baby up in her mouth.

It wasagony for the two photographers watching the baby's ordeal. "I kept turning off the video option on my camera because it was hard to record."

Credit: Evan Schiller and Lisa Holzwarth

Surprisingly, the baby baboon responded.

Credit: Evan Schiller and Lisa Holzwarth

It soon began to hold on to the lioness' chest and even attempted to suckle.

Credit: Evan Schiller and Lisa Holzwarth

Suddenly, two male lions arrived to the scene. The lioness immediately showed signs of aggression towards them. Was she defending the new baby she found?

Credit: Evan Schiller and Lisa Holzwarth

All the while, the father baboon was watching everything from away and waiting for the right time to come for the save. As he descended from the tree, he would test the interest and responses of the lions each time to not draw sudden attention to himself.

Credit: Evan Schiller and Lisa Holzwarth

He finally made the move and snatched the baby up at the first moment he could. The father baboon saved the day!

Credit: Evan Schiller and Lisa Holzwarth

This story is impressive on so many levels from the lioness' gentleness with the baby baboon to the bravery of the father baboon.